Samuel P. Carson Signed Period Fair Copy in the Hand of Elisha
Pease of the Bounty Land Ordinance Issued at the Convention of ...

Description

Bounty Land Ordinance issued at the Convention of 1836

Samuel P. Carson Signed Period Fair Copy in the Hand of Elisha
Pease of the Bounty Land Ordinance Issued at the Convention of
1836. Four pages of a bifolium, 7.75" x 9.75". Undated, but
circa 1836. In part: Bounty Land Ordinance of Convention
1836. Whereas many individuals from the United States and elsewhere
have left their homes of peace and comfort to volunteer in the
service of this country and endured the hardships and perils of war
in its struggle against Mexican tyranny; and have by their generous
patriotism and gallant conduct in the field earned our warmest
gratitude therefore - Resolved that bounties of land be granted to
said volunteers as follows viz - To all who are now in service and
shall continue in service faithfully during the War 1280 acres. To
all who have served faithfully, or who shall continue in service
faithfully for a period not less than six months 640 acres. To all
those who have served faithfully for a period not less than three
months 320 acres. To all who shall enter the service previous to
the first day of next July and shall continue in service faithfully
during the War provided the War shall continue for a period more
than six months 760 acres. To all who shall enter the service after
the first day of next July a quantity proportioned to their service
and to be hereafter determined."

Additional resolutions establish claims by heirs of deceased
soldiers, proof of service, and protocols for managing duplicate
claims on land. Carson endorses and signs stating that this is
"A true copy from the record of the convention. Sam. P. Carson /
Secy of State."

The Convention of 1836 met on March 1, 1836. Convention delegates
wrote the Texas Declaration of Independence, the Constitution,
named Sam Houston commander in chief of the military, and
established the ad interim government. One of the most important
resolutions passed would be the ordinance offered here which
provided a means for the Republic to build an army. While loans
were secured for the purchase of provisions, land bounties were
used to pay volunteers as outlined by this ordinance.

Samuel P. Carson (1798-1838) attended the Convention as a delegate
from Pecan Point. Originally from North Carolina, where he had
served on the Senate, Carson had extensive experience in drafting
legislation and played an important role at the Convention. He was
elected secretary of state on March 17, 1836 and was sent to
Washington to help raise funds for the new Republic on April 1. The
fair copy offered here must date from that two-week period. Carson
served as secretary of state for only a short period; he resigned
his post in June after inadvertently learning from a newspaper
article that he had been replaced as an agent for Texas.

Elisha Pease attended the Convention as secretary to the General
Council of the Provisional Government and would have written out
the ordinance in that capacity. From the Robert E. Davis
Collection.

Condition: The document has been professionally de-acidified
and stabilized; archival tissue is used to reinforce partial
separations occurring folds at top of pages 2 and 3. Bit of paper
loss resulting from ink burn affects 2 words. Adhesive staining and
mounting remnants along the integral fold, and a few small stains
from cello tape, now removed.